Image forming apparatus and image forming method

Abstract

In an image forming apparatus, a timer unit measures a time interval between a current time and a time point when previous supply of toner to a developing unit ended and an adjusting unit adjusts an amount of toner to be supplied to the developing unit based on the time interval measured at the timer unit.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a toner supplying unit that supplies toner from a toner container to a developing unit; 
 a timer unit that measures a time interval between a current time and a time point when previous supply of toner by the toner supplying unit to the developing unit ended; and 
 an adjusting unit that adjusts an amount of toner to be supplied by the toner supplying unit to the developing unit based on the time interval measured at the timer unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting unit adjusts the amount of toner to be supplied by the toner supplying unit to the developing unit based on a color of the toner. 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a setting unit that sets whether or not to perform adjustment of the amount of toner to be supplied by the toner supplying unit. 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an input unit that receives input of the amount of toner to be supplied by the toner supplying unit. 
     
     
       5. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a determining unit that determines whether the toner container is replaced by a new toner container or replaced by a used toner container, wherein
 the adjusting unit resets the time interval when the determining unit determines that the toner container is replaced by a new toner container, and does not reset the time interval when the determining unit determines that the toner container is replaced by a used toner container. 
 
     
     
       6. An image forming method comprising:
 supplying toner from a toner container to a developing unit; 
 measuring a time interval between a current time and a time point when previous supply of toner at the supplying ended; and 
 adjusting an amount of toner to be supplied at the supplying based on the time interval measured at the measuring. 
 
     
     
       7. The image forming method according to  claim 6 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the amount of toner to be supplied at the supplying based on a color of the toner. 
     
     
       8. The image forming method according to  claim 6 , further comprising setting whether or not to perform adjustment of the amount of toner to be supplied at the supplying. 
     
     
       9. The image forming method according to  claim 6 , further comprising receiving input of the amount of toner to be supplied at the supplying. 
     
     
       10. The image forming method according to  claim 6 , further comprising determining whether the toner container is replaced by a new toner container or replaced by a used toner container, wherein
 the adjusting includes
 resetting the time interval when it is determined at the determining that the toner container is replaced by a new toner container, and 
 maintaining the time interval when it is determined at the determining that the toner container is replaced by a used toner container.